Interior Minister Rehman Malik on Sunday said some elements of the Afghan government were supporting Fazlullah, senior leader of Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan, who was fighting to topple the Pakistani government.
Pakistani officials say Taliban commander Fazlullah has been orchestrating raids on Pakistani security forces from Afghanistan, where he fled several years ago after a Pakistani army operation in his stronghold in Swat. Pakistan has repeatedly called on Afghanistan to hunt down Fazlullah, whose fighters in their hundreds cross the border, launch ambushes and attack army checkpoints.
“If somebody is living in somebody’s house and you ask him `who is giving you food, who is giving you all this shelter?’ You know he is in Afghanistan,” Malik said in an interview on Sunday.
“I think some of the elements of the Afghan government there are supporters. Maybe state actors, maybe non-state actors.” “Unfortunately he is enjoying his life in Afghanistan,” said Malik. “I appeal to Afghanistan to look into it and make sure (his) people don’t come to us.”
“He is as dangerous (for Pakistan) as the Haqqanis are dangerous for Afghanistan. He is energising terrorism now. He is recruiting people, he is planning,” Malik said. Asked if Pakistan would be willing to go after the Haqqanis, Malik said: “They are not our babies, they are no longer anyone’s babies. They have become independent.”
Malik points finger at Afghan govt for supporting Fazlullah
